Bracket for building construction.



PATBNTED SEPT. 8,1908;-

A. TOUPINQ BRACKET FOR BUILDING CONSTRUGTION.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.7, 1907.

\ uENToR I M M VZWZ UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

AMABLE TOUPIN, OF ST. AGATHE, MANITOBA, CANADA.

BRACKET FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed December 7, 1907.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMABLE TOUPIN, of the village of St. Agathe, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, car enter, have invented certain new and usefifil Improvements in Brackets for Building Construction, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a device to be used for connecting horizontal supporting braces or connections to uprights or standards, and while it is more es ecially intended and designed for use in hol ing the vertical and horizontal members of ladders yet it is applicable in other structures.

The object of the invention is to provide a bracket of the above mentioned character which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong and durable, and so made that it may be readily applied and as easily removed.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it is applicable no matter what the material used in connection with it, be it wood, iron, or rope, and a further object is to avoid the use of screws and such like for holding the portions together, the parts being arranged and constructed as hereinafter more particularly described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a ladder fitted with my invention, the ver tical and cross members being of wood. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a vertical and horizontal member secured together by my bracket, the members being of metal such as gas pipe. Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the parts, as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of my bracket, as applied to rope vertical, and wooden cross members. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the parts, as shown in Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed side views showing the manner in which the horizontal members are tapered at the ends, the one being of iron and the other of wood.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

The reference numeral 1 represents my imroved bracket, which is formed with two liollow side extensions 2 2, the openings being in vertical alinement and of a cross sectional area suflicient to receive the vertical sup orting members as hereinafter more particu arly described. The wings 2 2 are inter-connected by a loop or band 3 which is displaced wholly to the side of the vertical Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Serial No. 405,622.

the side face of the standard passes across and cuts off a portion of the otherwise complete circular loop as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. This band is of sufficient width to give support to the horizontal members wlliich are held by the bracket to the vertica s.

In the drawings I have shown several modifications all embodying my invention, slight deviations being made, dependent on the materials being held together. All the cross or horizontal arms have their ends tapered on one side as at 5, Figs. 6 and 7, the object of this being to give an increased frictional surface when placed against the uprights and to allow for a wedging effect.

Referring to Fig. 1, 6 are vertical uprights or standards formed from wood, preferably cylindrical in shape, and solid in form. 7 is a horizontal or cross member formed of wood and having its ends tapered on one side as at 5, Fig. 7. In-applying my bracket it is slipped on the upright 6 and the cross arm 7 is inserted with the end in the o ening in the band 3, the fiat or tapered side 5 lieing against the face of the upright. The cross arm is forced or hammered in, binding with the vertical member. To further insure against the arm pulling out, the end is slit, and a wedge 8 forced into the opening, spreading the end. The frictional contact between the vertical and cross member is ample to support several hundred pounds.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a deviation where iron cross arms 7 are used, requiring that the cross arms be flattened the same as if wood were used, but to hold the arm from pulling out it is flattened and tapered at the end and flanged back as at 8 against the side face of the loop. This prevents any lateral movement, and the frictional contact between the members is suflicient to sup ort the weight carried by the cross arms as a ore'said.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a further modification where rope is used for the verticals 6 and wood for the cross arms. In this case the cross arm is held in position in the same manner as described and shown in Fig. 1, but the extensions 2 2 are slit at 9 and, when the rope is inserted, squeezed to the rope, as shown clearly in the lower extension 2, Fig. 4. This is-suflicient to hold the brackets from sliding when the ladder or such like is being used.

I wish to draw attention to the fact that I do not require to use screws or like contrivances for holding the members together solidly. I am aware that brackets having bearings disposed at right angles to each other are now in use but in these the members fitting into the bearings are absolutely free, the one from the other, and means such as the screws have to be used for holding the members in place within the bearings or sleeves.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination with the vertical upright and the bracket sleeved thereon, and having a laterally extending supporting band, of cross arms having their end side faces flat and ta ered and fitting in the opening between the and and the upright, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with the u right and the bracket sleeved thereon, said racket consisting of two extensions looped together by an outstanding band, of a cross arm having a ortion of its face at the end, flattened, anc tapering toward the end, the cross arms fitting within the o ening bounded by the outstanding band and the upright, as and for the purpose s ecified.

3. n a device of the class described the combination with the upright and the bracket sleeved thereon and formed from two extensions inter-connected by an outstanding band, of a cross arm having a portion of its face at the end flattened, and tapering toward the end and means for preventing withdrawal of the arm, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a device of the class described the combination with the upright and the bracket sleeved thereon and formed from two 6Xi3611 AMABLE TOUPIN.

Witnesses:

JAs. M. TAPLEY, GERALD S. RoXBURGI-I. 

